Those who have experience of both the pessaries and taking Utrogestan vaginally, could you let me know the pros/cons and which you prefer?
Hi there MizzT
Sorry have been busy - ah - Cyclogest - now I know what you're talking about! Thought there was some weird new product been released that noone knew about
Anyway - yes I have experience of both. When I first started using progesterone ( as opposed to synthetic prog) about 10 years ago I don't think Utrogestan had been invented - at least not for HRT and my enlightened GP prescribed me Cyclogest to go with oestrogen patches ( because I didn't want synthetic stuff). As there is no guidance on the dosage she prescribed 400 mg for 11 days per month (I was 54 at the time and late peri). This sounds like a lot but as they are waxy pessaries I don't think as much gets to the uterus as with utrogestan so the dosage is higher - but I think too high. It might have been too much but it did the trick. Mine came as 200 mg pessaries so I used to put one up the front and one up the back! I did find I got migraines quite regularly but most usually on withdrawal of the prog until it cleared (like normal pmt), but also if I drank alcohol in the wrong way (have since learnt how I can still enjoy this and stay migraine free!). It certainly kept my lining clear - used to get a small bleed every 4 weeks. Later though once I was well post-meno (aged around 57 or 58) I didn't get a bleed at all so probably I could have extended my cycle on this or reduced the dose. I did also get a bit more foggy headed while taking it (the Cyclogest that is).
I won't bore you with the HRT saga after I changed from Cyclogest - but in 2011 I changed to utrogestan (discovered through this forum - my GP was still prescribing Cyclogest) - again using vaginally 200 mg x 12 days per month and then extended to 6-8 week cycle (doc is OK with this).
I can't say which I prefer really. I think had the dose been lower with the Cyclogest ( ie 200 mg) it would have been better. This product is specifically designed as a pessary/suppository - but is different ie waxy capsule whereas utrogestan is a very small slightly soft squashy ball. I sometimes wonder if the 100 mg capsules do the job as they are so small and more outer coating to dissolve before the prog goo gets into the system?
The main thing is it's better to err on the side of using more than less to start with and under supervision of your doc and then work together to reduce dose or lengthen cycle if your system is OK with this (ie womb lining).
Hopoe this helps
Hurdity x